Coherer.



5. J. BURKE.

L T m w H w H m H s 2 Patented May 23 B. J. BURKE. GOHEREB. APPLIGATIONFILED 00T. 29. 1906.

993, 024', A Patented May 23, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.-

i Toialil @cham it may concern:

j UNrTED s'rafrns orrrcn.

. ,vanwaar J. BURKE,

F NEW YORK, N. 'Y., ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN Q. A. W'HITT'EMORE, 0FNEWTQN, MASSACHUSETTS.

oorrnnna. v

. Be" it knownthat I, EDWARD J. Bumm, a

, citizen of the United States, and a resident of l. the borough ofvBrooklyn,

signals city4 of New York, State of New York, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Coherers, of which the following isa'specification.

My invention more particularly relates to that class of responders orreceivers used in wireless telegraphywhereby the oscillatory dischargesvwhich attend the transmission of andmade useof for 4reproducing at adisvtance the signals so transmitted.A

In my improved cohererI preferably employ substances which aresusceptible of coherence under the Aaction and. stress of highpotentials. such asA are at present employed in wireless telegraphy.There are many such substances welll-known 'inthe art and these--Election to be made mayy-de'pend' upon special conditions andtheyarying circumstances that are found-to. affect-'favorably or un`favorably"` the wirelessv transmission of slg- ,nalsi For,` eneralpurposes Ilnd in practice thatv granu ated carboni gives; verysatlsfac-`y:tory lresults and I find it ,weilVv adapted for use inmyfimprovedcoherer.v c

VHeretofore, as 1s Well known, 1t `has been lmetallic or diering ingdegrees of conductivity under degrees of vcoherence' have after a brief'pespreceivers actuated by local riod of use become inoperative'because'of the deterioration of the individual-particles,l

of the powder-in the coherer -or from 1m-A perfect decoherence. lAsaresult the'use of coherers in which powder'I of any kind is used havebeen to a great extent absnidonedv in wireless telegraphy and asaconserpience'A` wireless ltelegraph signals are* at present jalmostuniversally received through telephone Ia1`jeunsatisfactory, unreliableand uniitted Ip-my improved cohererall the objections .attending othercoherers in the matter of the deterioration -of the cohering particlesby y means. of Hertzien waves or other l electric waves or variationsare detected.

'per o'r shaker.

lc`ohered and replace such removed` wave Acally fresh and vr.unaffectedby previous' use batteries of small 1 potential varied through somedelicate de# tector of which there are several well known l Ain the art.The signals received in this wayculties resulting; from imperfectdecoherence; I am, therefore, enabled not only to reproduce wirelesssignals by sound but also to record thesame on an ordinary recordingpaper tape 'asin ordinary telegraphy or to relay the' signals from onereceiving wireless station to another either by wireless means or over aland lineby ordinary telegraphic means. l

By my improved coherer I am enabled to `use locally on the cohererelectric' currents having a much higher potential and of a 'largeramperage produce manyvdesirable effectsA not possible with weak electriccurrents.

Heretofore in-coherers inwhich powder or metallic filings have beenemployed decoherence of the particles depended entirely upon a more orless vigorous vshaking of the particles therein, usually by tapping thecoherer.v This is done by means of a local cur- ,rent passing throughthe coherer, yaried by the action of the received oscillations oroperating a delicate relay which relay controls another local batteryhaving in its circuit an electromagnetic tap- In my improved 'coherer Ineither tap no'r shake the coherer noi the particles vtherein but byeach action of a received operative wave or oscillation I bodily removebythe means I'employ the substance cohe ed substance byv fresh materialso `that e ery incoming wave or oscillation has fresh material to acton. In this way every received finds the coherable particles practi' andconsequently in a normally constant state of uniform condition ofhighest eciency.

:Because of this replacement of the particles of coherence'y after eachsignal operation it is obvious that the action of the local battery.through the coherable particles will A'cause little or no deteriorationof the partiv'cles and that a larger battery may therefore be employedwithout any detrimental effects on the coherer. Less delicate relays maytherefore be employed and the fine adjustments now attending relays usedin connection with coherers in receiving wireless signals thus avoided.

The invention consists in features illuslthan have heretofore been..#possible with coherers andto obtain a greater positiveness of thesignals and toA Specification of Letter'sPatent. Patented May 23, 1911,y v

Application le'd October 29, 1906. Serial No. 341 O29.

use, are entirely removed as also all diiii- .trated in the drawings andset forth in the and modifications covered by or 1nfollowing descriptionthereof and which are eluded in the claims.

Referring to trates a top view of the my invention. Fig. 2 illustrates avertical sectional view of the device. Fig. 3 is a detailed view of apart of the device showing the cohering chamber and the electrodes. Fig.4 is a sectional view of a modification of lmy invention. Fig. 5 is adiagram showing the connections of the modification shown in Fig. 4,with a wireless system.

Referring nowto the drawings I shall describe the construction andarrangement of the parts of my improved coherer more in detail.

1 is the supporting base of the instrument embodying my invention. 1

2 is a cylindrical body made of insulating material, such as vulcanite.The cylindrical body 2 is supported on the base by means of posts 3, 3and a platform 4. The platform 4 is attached to the posts 3, 3 by meansof screws 5, 5. The body 2 is provided with an enlarged portion 6located in the center thereof. The enlarged portion is adapted toreceive the shell 7 which is also made of an insulating material. Theshell 7 tit" into and passes through the body 2 and is s d in theplatform 4. By this means the body 2 is also secured to the lplatformThe shell 7 has a transverse channel or hole which registers with acentral. bore in the cylindrical body 2. The body 2 conAv tains theelectrodes or terminal contacts which are connected to or form a part oftwo rods 9 located in the body 2. The terminals 8, 8 fit snugly in thehole of the body 2. The terminals or electrodes are located in thevicinity of each other, thc space between them constituting the chamberin which the particles of coherable material are cohered.

he outer ends 10, 10 of the rods are screw threaded and pass throughshells 11, 11 which are located in the ends of the cylindrical body 2.

device embodying by the rods may be screwed in and out of the shells 11,11 and thespace between the terminals or the sizeof the cohering chambermay be adjusted. The distance between the terminals may thus beadjustedas deA sired. Loclnnuts 13, 13 are located on the screw threadedportions of the rods and are adapted to be screwed against the ends ofBy this means the rods and the terminals may be lockecin their adjustedpositions. The outside of the shells 11, 11 are also provided withthreads on which thumbfnuts 14, 14 are screwed. The thumb nuts 14,14 maybe screwed against the reinforcing collars 15, 15 located on and thedrawings Figure 1 illus- Milled heads 12, 12 are attached to the outerends of the rods wheret covering the ends of the cylindrical body 2.Electric conductors may be secured between the thumb nuts 14, 14 and thecollars 15, 15. By this means the electrodes or terminals S, 8 may beconnected in an electric circuit.

To the shell 7 and the cohering chamber is connected a receptacle forcontaining a material used as a variable resistance in the art ofwireless telegraphy. vAny material that is suitable for this purpose`may be used, such as carbon granules. The receptacle for containing thematerial may be of any suitable form. I have illustrated a funnel orhopper 1G which is supported by the ceptacle or funnel 16 through theshell 7 and between the terminals '8, S, that is, to and through thecohering chamber to the end of the shell 7.

The cohering material is controlled by a slide valve which operates toclose and open the lower end of the shell 7 and to allow the material topass through the cohering chamber and through the exit of the shell. Theslide valve 17 is located under the platform 4 and moves along its lowersurface and is adapted to close the outlet 18. The valve 17 is guided bya'small plate 19 and a pin 2O attached thereto. The plate 19 rests onthe platform 4 and is attached to the valve 17 by means of the pin 2Oand the rod 21. The plate 19 is secured to the pin 20 by means of a nut23. The pin 20 moves in a 22 formed in the platform 4. The valve'operated by means of a magnet.

The pin 20 which is attached to the valve 17 is connected to thearmature 24 by a link 25 and an arm 30 extending upward from thearmature 24. The link 25 is attached to the pin 2O and to the arm 30 bypivot pins 26 and 27. The armature is supported by fulcrum points 28, 2Slocated in uprights 29, 29 supported on the base 1. A spring 31 operateson the armature 24 to push it to the left and away from the magnet 32and to keep the slide valve 17 closed, the spring 31 being attached tothe armature and pressing against one end of one of the spools of themagnet 32. When the magnet is energized the slide valve is pulled to theright and the outlet 18 is opened.

The magnet 32 is supported in the frame 33 and on the base 1. The frame33 has an arm 34 which extends over the top of the magnet 32. To the arm34 is secured an upright or post 35. The post 35 may be a right angularportion of the arm 34. In the post 35 is secured a marker 36 by means ofthe screw 37. `r.lhe marker that 1 have shown comprises a tube 38 and afont 39 for ink. An absqrbent substance 40 is locatedwithin the lowerend of the tube and assists in regulating the How of the ink to the endof the tube.

Clips 41 and posts 3, 3 and are adapted to receive and guide tape orribbon 43. vAn arm 30 of the armature 24 extends upward to a., pointopposite the lower end of the marker 36. The clips 41 and 42 are adaptedto guide the ribbon between the upper end otl the arm 30 and the marker36. Then the armature is moved by the magnet 32 the arm strikes theribbon 43 and presses it against the marker and a mark or record ismade. Also when the magnet 32 is energized the armature 24 is drawntoward it and the slide valve 17 is terial to pass operated and the exit18 is opened in response to an electric impulse. The marker may beadjusted and securedl at any lpoint in the post 35 by means of the screw37. By this means the extent of the movement of the armature may beadjusted and consequently the amount of the opening produced by theshifting of the slide valve may also be regulated.

AA receptacle 44 is located below the nozzle or opening 18 to receivethe material after it is removed from the cohering chamber. As eachimpulse is received the cohered material contained in the chamber andwhich was cohered by the impulse drops bodily downward and finally intothe receptacle 44.

In Figs. 4 and 5 I have shown a modication of the invention. In themodification a plurality of pairs of terminals are used to multiply theeiect of a received impulse. Fig. 4 shows the modified portion of thedevice mounted on the platform 4. The shell 7, which in the modificationis much longer, is inserted in a hole in the platform 4. A plurality ofterminals 64 and 65 are located in the shell 7, the terminals 64 beinglocated opposite the terminals 65. The terminals 64 and 65 are screwthreaded and are adapted to be screwed to the shell 7. 'Wires areattached to the terminals 64 and 65 for connecting the terminalswitheach other or in external circuits. A receptacle is connected with theinterior of Vthe shell 7. I have shown a funnel 16 which is mounted inthe upper end of the shell 7. The receptacle 16 contains the variableresistance inaterial and is adapted to Jfeed the same into the shell andbetween the spaces formed between the terminals 64 and 65. The lower endof the shell 7 is closed by means of the slide valve 17 which operatesin the same way that the slide valve shown in Fig. 2 operates. The slidevalve 17 allows the mathrough the spaces or chambers between the ends ofthe terminals or electrodes 64 and 65 as the material is f cohered.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated the way in which the Vmodification can beused to magnify the impulses received by the antennae. The terminals 65are connected together and each terminal 64 is connected to a battery 4Qare supported on two 'property of 47. By this means a plurality ofbatteries can be used without destroyingthe coherable the material.- Thebatteries 47 are all connected together and to the .relay 46. A localcircuit is thus formed through the batteries and-the multiple cohererand the relay 46. The relay 46 operates upon its armature 48 and closesthe circuit of the battery 49 in the manner described in connection withFig. 7. As magnet 32 is operated the valve 17 is pulled to .one side andthe outlet of the shell 7 is open. Some of the material is removed fromthe shell and the rest of it is moved downward .toward the outlet andnew material takes the place ot' the cohered material which was coheredby the received'impulse. A much stronger current can then be used inconnection with the coherer and a less delicate relay 46 may be used forclosing the circuit of the valve controlling magnet and operating therecorder.

The invention can be applied to any form, of a wireless system or to anyform of' an electrical system which is used for. the transmission ofelectrical impulses.

The diferent features of the invention may be modified by those skilledin the art without in any way altering the essence of the invention ordeparting from` the spirit thereof.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters PatentI is asfollows:

1. In a coherer the combination of a plurality of terminals, a coherablematerial, means for feeding the said coherable material to and throughthe said coherer, means for discontinuing the feeding of the saidmaterial while the impulses are not received.

2. In a coherer the combination of a plurality of terminals, a coherablematerial, means for causing the said coherable material 'to pass betweenthe said terminals vcontinuously in one direction -and means forstopping the said movement of the said material.

3. In a coherer the combination of the body of the coherer, terminalslocated within the said body, means for adjusting the said terminals, acoherablematerial, a means IOO for Afeeding the said coherable material`through the said coherer.

5. In a coherer the combination of the body of thev coherer, a coherablematerial,

adjustable terminals located with the said body, means for feeding thesaid coherable material into the space between the said terminals andthrough the body of the coherer and an adjustable means for causing thematerial to pass between -the said terminals as each signal is received.

6. -In a telegraphic device the combination of a coherer, coherablematerial, an electric controlling means for controlling the coherablematerial and causing it to be dis-n placed by other material and arecorder operated by the said electric controlling means.

7. In a\telegraphic device the combination of a coherer, a recorder', acoherable material, a. means operated by the recorder for removing aafter each operative impulse.

8. In a telegraphic device the combination of a coherable material, arecorder, a means connected to the said recorder for causing the-removalof the material as it is cohered upon the operation of the saidrecorder.

9. In a telegraphic device the combination of a coherer, a recorder, acoherable material, adjustable terminals located in the said coherer,adjustable means for regulating the movement of the said material, meansfor causing the cohered material to be replaced by a coherable materialupon the operation of the said recorder.

lO. In a coherer the combination of the body of the coherer, a coherablematerial adapted to be fed through the said body of the coherer, anelectro-magnet adapted to control the movement of the coherable materialto and the cohered material away from the said body of the coherer.

ll. In a coherer the combination of a plurality of pairs of terminals, avariable resistance material, a means for causing the material to movebetween the terminals one after the other.

l2. In a coherer the combination of a said pairs of portion of thecohered materialy eeaoaa shell, a variable resistance material locatedin the said shell and a plurality of pairs of terminals located alongthe said shell and means for causing the said material to pass thelength oj'f the shell and between the said pairs of terminalsconsecutively..

13. In a coherer the combination of a plurality of pairs of terminals, avariable resistance material located between the said terminals, aplurality of batteries, one of said batteries connected to one of eachpair of the said terminals, an antenna connected to another set of thesaid terminals, a magnet connected to the lsaid antenna and to the saidbatteries and means controlled by .the said magnet for reproducing animpulse received by the antenna.

14. In a' coherer a cohering chamber normally filled with coherablematerial, a larger chamber ycon-taining coherable material, means forreleasing and removing the ma terial from the said cohering chamber and'means for refilling it with other coherable material from the saidlarger chamber.

l5. In a coherer the combination of a terminal, a body for containingcoherable material, the said coherable material'adapted to pass injuxtaposition to the said terminal, and means for stoppingthe saidlmaterial while portions of it are being cchered.

16. In a coherer the combination of a body of the coherable material andmeans for automatically causing portions of the material to move throughthe body of the coherer step by step as the said portions are cohered.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my' name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD J. BURKE. Witnesses CHARLES J. BURKE, FAUsT F. CRAMPTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington,

